This article reviews recent findings indicating some common brain processes during dissociative s... more This article reviews recent findings indicating some common brain processes during dissociative states and dreaming with the aim to outline a perspective that neural chaotic states during dreaming can be closely related to dissociative states that may manifest in dreams scenery. These data are in agreement with various clinical findings that dissociated states can be projected into the “dream scenery” in REM sleep periods and dreams may represent their specific interactions that may uncover unusual psychological potential of creativity in psychotherapy, art, and scientific discoveries.
Despite extensive research, the current theories on serotonergic dysfunctions and cortisol hypers... more Despite extensive research, the current theories on serotonergic dysfunctions and cortisol hypersecretion do not provide sufficient explanations for the nature of depression. Rational treatments aimed at causal factors of depression are not available yet. With the currently available antidepressant drugs, which mainly target serotonin, less than two thirds of depressed patients achieve remission. There is now evidence that inflammatory and neurodegenerative (I&ND) processes play an important role in depression and that enhanced neurodegeneration in depression may–at least partly–be caused by inflammatory processes. Multiple inflammatory-cytokines, oxygen radical damage, tryptophan catabolites–and neurodegenerative biomarkers have been established in patients with depression and these findings are corroborated by animal models of depression. A number of vulnerability factors may predispose towards depression by enhancing inflammatory reactions, e.g. lower peptidase activities (dipeptidyl-peptidase IV, DPP IV), lower omega-3 polyunsaturated levels and an increased gut permeability (leaky gut). The cytokine hypothesis considers that external, e.g. psychosocial stressors, and internal stressors, e.g. organic inflammatory disorders or conditions, such as the postpartum period, may trigger depression via inflammatory processes. Most if not all antidepressants have specific anti-inflammatory effects, while restoration of decreased neurogenesis, which may be induced by inflammatory processes, may be related to the therapeutic efficacy of antidepressant treatments. Future research to disentangle the complex etiology of depression calls for a powerful paradigm shift, i.e. by means of a high throughput-high quality screening, including functional genetics and genotyping microarrays; established and novel animal and ex vivo–in vitro models for depression, such as new transgenic mouse models and endophenotype-based animal models, specific cell lines, in vivo and ex vivo electroporation, and organotypic brain slice culture models. This screening will allow to: 1) discover new I&ND biomarkers, both at the level of gene expression and the phenotype; and elucidate the underlying molecular I&ND pathways causing depression; and 2) identify new therapeutic targets in the I&ND pathways; develop new anti-I&ND drugs for these targets; select existing anti-I&ND drugs or substances that could augment the efficacy of antidepressants; and predict therapeutic response by genetic I&ND profiles.
Chaotic neural dynamics likely emerge in cognitive processes and may present time periods that ar... more Chaotic neural dynamics likely emerge in cognitive processes and may present time periods that are extremely sensitive to influences affecting the neural system. Recent findings suggest that this sensitivity may increase during retrieval of stressful emotional experiences reflecting underlying mechanism related to consolidation of traumatic memories. In this context, hypnotic recall of anxiety memories in 10 patients, simultaneously with ECG measurement was performed. The same measurement was performed during control cognitive task in 8 anxiety patients and 22 healthy controls. Nonlinear data analysis of ECG records indicates significant increase in the degree of chaos during retrieval of stressful memory in all the patients. The results suggest a role of chaotic neural dynamics during processing of anxiety-related stressful memories.
Abstract: Descartes intuitively anticipated the so-called ‘binding problem’ of consciousness and... more Abstract: Descartes intuitively anticipated the so-called ‘binding problem’ of consciousness and thought that the pineal gland enables spatio-temporal integration in cognitive processing. Recent findings indicate that a major role in the process of temporal integration and binding involve neurons in suprachiasmatic nuclei, specifically targeting the pineal gland and other structures, and control the neuroendocrine rhythms. Melatonin is an endocrine output signal of the clock and provides circadian information as an endogenous synchronizer which stabilizes and reinforces circadian rhythms. This integrative process occurs at the different levels of the circadian network via gene expression in some brain regions and peripheral structures that enables integration of circadian, hormonal, and metabolic information and creating temporal order of bodily and mental experience. This specific temporal order is reflected in associative sequentiality that is necessary for cognition, behavior and all processes of memory consolidation that must preserve all information in the temporal causal order and synchrony. In this context, recent findings suggest that melatonin could be a potential regulator in the processes that contribute to memory formation, long-term potentiation, and synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus and other brain regions. There is evidence that stress disrupts normal activity and memory consolidation in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, and this process leads to memories that are stored without a contextual or spatiotemporal frame. These findings emphasize a specific role of melatonin in mechanisms of consciousness, memory and stress and are also consistent with reported studies that indicate melatonin alterations under stressful conditions and in mental disorders.
Dissociative symptoms are traditionally attributed to psychological stressors that produce dissoc... more Dissociative symptoms are traditionally attributed to psychological stressors that produce dissociated memories related to stressful life events. Dissociative disorders and dissociative symptoms including psychogenic amnesia, fugue, dissociative identity-disorder, depersonalization, derealization and other symptoms or syndromes have been reported as an epidemic psychiatric condition that may be coexistent with various psychiatric diagnoses such as depression, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder or anxiety disorders. According to recent findings also the somatic components of dissociation may occur and influence brain, autonomic and neuroendocrine functions. At this time there are only few studies examining neuroendocrine response related to dissociative symptoms that suggest significant dysregulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The aim of the present study is to perform examination of HPA axis functioning indexed by basal cortisol and prolactin and test their relationship to psychic and somatoform dissociative symptoms. Basal cortisol and prolactin and psychic and somatoform dissociative symptoms were assessed in 40 consecutive inpatients with diagnosis of unipolar depression mean age 43.37 (SD=12.21). The results show that prolactin and cortisol as indices of HPA axis functioning manifest significant relationship to dissociative symptoms. Main results represent highly significant correlations obtained by simple regression between psychic dissociative symptoms (DES) and serum prolactin (R=0.55, p=0.00027), and between somatoform dissociation (SDQ-20) and serum cortisol (R=-0.38, p=0.015). These results indicate relationship between HPA-axis reactivity and dissociative symptoms in unipolar depressive patients that could reflect passive coping behavior and disengagement.
International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 2007
Chaotic transitions emerge in a wide variety of cognitive phenomena and may possibly be linked to... more Chaotic transitions emerge in a wide variety of cognitive phenomena and may possibly be linked to specific changes during development of mental disorders. There are several hypotheses that link the dissociation to critical chaotic shifts with the resulting self-organization of behavioral patterns during critical periods. In 2 patients, hypnotic revivification of dissociated trauma along with measurement of bilateral electrodermal activity (EDA) for therapeutic and research purposes was performed. Nonlinear data analysis of EDA records shows a difference between degree of chaos in hypnotic relaxed state before revivification of the trauma and dissociated state after reliving the traumatic memory. Results suggest that the dissociated state after revivification of the trauma is significantly more chaotic than the state during the hypnotic relaxation before the event. Findings of this study suggest a possible role of neural chaos in the processing of the dissociated traumatic memory during hypnotic revivification.Chaotische Transitionen treten bei verschiedenartigen kognitiven Phänomenen auf und können möglicherweise mit spezifischen Veränderungen während der Entstehung psychischer Störungen in Verbindung gebracht werden. Es gibt verschiedene Hypothesen, welche die Dissoziation zu kritischen chaotischen Verschiebungen in Verbindung bringen mit der resultierenden Selbstorganisation von Verhaltensmustern während kritischer Perioden. Bei zwei Patienten wurden zu Forschungs- und Therapiezwecken dissoziierte Traumata mittels Hypnose aktualisiert, wobei zusätzliche bilateral die elektrodermale Aktivität (EDA) erfasst wurde. Nichtlineare Analysen der EDA-Aufzeichnungen ergaben einen Unterschied im Ausmaß des Chaos im hypnotischen Entspannungszustand vor der Reaktualisierung der Traumata und dem dissoziierten Zustand nach der Aktualisierung der traumatischen Erinnerungen. Die Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass der dissoziierte Zustand nach der Aktualisierung der Traumata signifikant chaotischer ist als der Zustand während der hypnotischen Entspannung zuvor. Die Ergebnisse der Studie deuten eine mögliche Rolle des neuronalen Chaos bei der Verarbeitung der dissoziierten traumatischen Erinnerungen während hypnotischer Aktualisierung an.Des transitions chaotiques se dégagent d'une grande variété de phénomènes cognitifs et peuvent être liées à des changements spécifiques survenant durant le développement de troubles mentaux. Plusieurs hypothèses lient la dissociation à des changements chaotiques critiques, ayant pour résultat une auto-organisation de modèles de comportements durant les périodes critiques. Une revivification hypnotique du trauma dissocié, accompagnée du mesurage de l'activité électrodermale (EDA) bilatérale à des fins thérapeutiques et de recherche, a été effectuée chez deux patients. Une analyse des données non linéaires obtenues grâce à l'EDA montre une différence entre le degré de chaos présent durant l'état de relaxation hypnotique, avant la revivification du trauma, et celui présent durant l'état de dissociation faisant suite au rappel du souvenir traumatique. Les résultats indiquent que l'état de dissociation suivant la revivification d'un trauma est considérablement plus chaotique que l'état de relaxation hypnotique qui précède la revivification. Les résultats de cette étude indiquent le rôle possible du chaos neural dans le traitement de la mémoire traumatique dissociée, durant la revivification hypnotique.Las transiciones caóticas surgen en una amplia variedad de fenómenos cognitivos y pueden estar vinculadas a cambios específicos durante el desarrollo de desórdenes mentales. Hay varias hipótesis que vinculan la disociación a cambios caóticos críticos con la resultante auto-organización de patrones conductuales durante períodos críticos. Inducimos en 2 pacientes la revivificación hipnótica de trauma disociado conjuntamente con la medición de actividad bilateral electrodermal (EDA) con fines terapéuticos y de investigación. Un análisis no-lineal del EDA registró una diferencia entre el grado de caos en el estado relajado hipnótico antes de la revivificación del trauma disociado y después de recordar la memoria traumática. Los resultados sugieren que el estado disociado después de la revivificación del trauma es significativamente más caóticos que el estado durante la relajación hipnótica precedente. Los resultados de este estudio sugieren un posible papel del caos neuronal en el procesamiento de la memoria traumática disociada durante la revivificación hipnótica.
This article reviews recent findings indicating some common brain processes during dissociative s... more This article reviews recent findings indicating some common brain processes during dissociative states and dreaming with the aim to outline a perspective that neural chaotic states during dreaming can be closely related to dissociative states that may manifest in dreams scenery. These data are in agreement with various clinical findings that dissociated states can be projected into the “dream scenery” in REM sleep periods and dreams may represent their specific interactions that may uncover unusual psychological potential of creativity in psychotherapy, art, and scientific discoveries.
Despite extensive research, the current theories on serotonergic dysfunctions and cortisol hypers... more Despite extensive research, the current theories on serotonergic dysfunctions and cortisol hypersecretion do not provide sufficient explanations for the nature of depression. Rational treatments aimed at causal factors of depression are not available yet. With the currently available antidepressant drugs, which mainly target serotonin, less than two thirds of depressed patients achieve remission. There is now evidence that inflammatory and neurodegenerative (I&ND) processes play an important role in depression and that enhanced neurodegeneration in depression may–at least partly–be caused by inflammatory processes. Multiple inflammatory-cytokines, oxygen radical damage, tryptophan catabolites–and neurodegenerative biomarkers have been established in patients with depression and these findings are corroborated by animal models of depression. A number of vulnerability factors may predispose towards depression by enhancing inflammatory reactions, e.g. lower peptidase activities (dipeptidyl-peptidase IV, DPP IV), lower omega-3 polyunsaturated levels and an increased gut permeability (leaky gut). The cytokine hypothesis considers that external, e.g. psychosocial stressors, and internal stressors, e.g. organic inflammatory disorders or conditions, such as the postpartum period, may trigger depression via inflammatory processes. Most if not all antidepressants have specific anti-inflammatory effects, while restoration of decreased neurogenesis, which may be induced by inflammatory processes, may be related to the therapeutic efficacy of antidepressant treatments. Future research to disentangle the complex etiology of depression calls for a powerful paradigm shift, i.e. by means of a high throughput-high quality screening, including functional genetics and genotyping microarrays; established and novel animal and ex vivo–in vitro models for depression, such as new transgenic mouse models and endophenotype-based animal models, specific cell lines, in vivo and ex vivo electroporation, and organotypic brain slice culture models. This screening will allow to: 1) discover new I&ND biomarkers, both at the level of gene expression and the phenotype; and elucidate the underlying molecular I&ND pathways causing depression; and 2) identify new therapeutic targets in the I&ND pathways; develop new anti-I&ND drugs for these targets; select existing anti-I&ND drugs or substances that could augment the efficacy of antidepressants; and predict therapeutic response by genetic I&ND profiles.
Chaotic neural dynamics likely emerge in cognitive processes and may present time periods that ar... more Chaotic neural dynamics likely emerge in cognitive processes and may present time periods that are extremely sensitive to influences affecting the neural system. Recent findings suggest that this sensitivity may increase during retrieval of stressful emotional experiences reflecting underlying mechanism related to consolidation of traumatic memories. In this context, hypnotic recall of anxiety memories in 10 patients, simultaneously with ECG measurement was performed. The same measurement was performed during control cognitive task in 8 anxiety patients and 22 healthy controls. Nonlinear data analysis of ECG records indicates significant increase in the degree of chaos during retrieval of stressful memory in all the patients. The results suggest a role of chaotic neural dynamics during processing of anxiety-related stressful memories.
Abstract: Descartes intuitively anticipated the so-called ‘binding problem’ of consciousness and... more Abstract: Descartes intuitively anticipated the so-called ‘binding problem’ of consciousness and thought that the pineal gland enables spatio-temporal integration in cognitive processing. Recent findings indicate that a major role in the process of temporal integration and binding involve neurons in suprachiasmatic nuclei, specifically targeting the pineal gland and other structures, and control the neuroendocrine rhythms. Melatonin is an endocrine output signal of the clock and provides circadian information as an endogenous synchronizer which stabilizes and reinforces circadian rhythms. This integrative process occurs at the different levels of the circadian network via gene expression in some brain regions and peripheral structures that enables integration of circadian, hormonal, and metabolic information and creating temporal order of bodily and mental experience. This specific temporal order is reflected in associative sequentiality that is necessary for cognition, behavior and all processes of memory consolidation that must preserve all information in the temporal causal order and synchrony. In this context, recent findings suggest that melatonin could be a potential regulator in the processes that contribute to memory formation, long-term potentiation, and synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus and other brain regions. There is evidence that stress disrupts normal activity and memory consolidation in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, and this process leads to memories that are stored without a contextual or spatiotemporal frame. These findings emphasize a specific role of melatonin in mechanisms of consciousness, memory and stress and are also consistent with reported studies that indicate melatonin alterations under stressful conditions and in mental disorders.
Dissociative symptoms are traditionally attributed to psychological stressors that produce dissoc... more Dissociative symptoms are traditionally attributed to psychological stressors that produce dissociated memories related to stressful life events. Dissociative disorders and dissociative symptoms including psychogenic amnesia, fugue, dissociative identity-disorder, depersonalization, derealization and other symptoms or syndromes have been reported as an epidemic psychiatric condition that may be coexistent with various psychiatric diagnoses such as depression, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder or anxiety disorders. According to recent findings also the somatic components of dissociation may occur and influence brain, autonomic and neuroendocrine functions. At this time there are only few studies examining neuroendocrine response related to dissociative symptoms that suggest significant dysregulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The aim of the present study is to perform examination of HPA axis functioning indexed by basal cortisol and prolactin and test their relationship to psychic and somatoform dissociative symptoms. Basal cortisol and prolactin and psychic and somatoform dissociative symptoms were assessed in 40 consecutive inpatients with diagnosis of unipolar depression mean age 43.37 (SD=12.21). The results show that prolactin and cortisol as indices of HPA axis functioning manifest significant relationship to dissociative symptoms. Main results represent highly significant correlations obtained by simple regression between psychic dissociative symptoms (DES) and serum prolactin (R=0.55, p=0.00027), and between somatoform dissociation (SDQ-20) and serum cortisol (R=-0.38, p=0.015). These results indicate relationship between HPA-axis reactivity and dissociative symptoms in unipolar depressive patients that could reflect passive coping behavior and disengagement.
International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 2007
Chaotic transitions emerge in a wide variety of cognitive phenomena and may possibly be linked to... more Chaotic transitions emerge in a wide variety of cognitive phenomena and may possibly be linked to specific changes during development of mental disorders. There are several hypotheses that link the dissociation to critical chaotic shifts with the resulting self-organization of behavioral patterns during critical periods. In 2 patients, hypnotic revivification of dissociated trauma along with measurement of bilateral electrodermal activity (EDA) for therapeutic and research purposes was performed. Nonlinear data analysis of EDA records shows a difference between degree of chaos in hypnotic relaxed state before revivification of the trauma and dissociated state after reliving the traumatic memory. Results suggest that the dissociated state after revivification of the trauma is significantly more chaotic than the state during the hypnotic relaxation before the event. Findings of this study suggest a possible role of neural chaos in the processing of the dissociated traumatic memory during hypnotic revivification.Chaotische Transitionen treten bei verschiedenartigen kognitiven Phänomenen auf und können möglicherweise mit spezifischen Veränderungen während der Entstehung psychischer Störungen in Verbindung gebracht werden. Es gibt verschiedene Hypothesen, welche die Dissoziation zu kritischen chaotischen Verschiebungen in Verbindung bringen mit der resultierenden Selbstorganisation von Verhaltensmustern während kritischer Perioden. Bei zwei Patienten wurden zu Forschungs- und Therapiezwecken dissoziierte Traumata mittels Hypnose aktualisiert, wobei zusätzliche bilateral die elektrodermale Aktivität (EDA) erfasst wurde. Nichtlineare Analysen der EDA-Aufzeichnungen ergaben einen Unterschied im Ausmaß des Chaos im hypnotischen Entspannungszustand vor der Reaktualisierung der Traumata und dem dissoziierten Zustand nach der Aktualisierung der traumatischen Erinnerungen. Die Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass der dissoziierte Zustand nach der Aktualisierung der Traumata signifikant chaotischer ist als der Zustand während der hypnotischen Entspannung zuvor. Die Ergebnisse der Studie deuten eine mögliche Rolle des neuronalen Chaos bei der Verarbeitung der dissoziierten traumatischen Erinnerungen während hypnotischer Aktualisierung an.Des transitions chaotiques se dégagent d'une grande variété de phénomènes cognitifs et peuvent être liées à des changements spécifiques survenant durant le développement de troubles mentaux. Plusieurs hypothèses lient la dissociation à des changements chaotiques critiques, ayant pour résultat une auto-organisation de modèles de comportements durant les périodes critiques. Une revivification hypnotique du trauma dissocié, accompagnée du mesurage de l'activité électrodermale (EDA) bilatérale à des fins thérapeutiques et de recherche, a été effectuée chez deux patients. Une analyse des données non linéaires obtenues grâce à l'EDA montre une différence entre le degré de chaos présent durant l'état de relaxation hypnotique, avant la revivification du trauma, et celui présent durant l'état de dissociation faisant suite au rappel du souvenir traumatique. Les résultats indiquent que l'état de dissociation suivant la revivification d'un trauma est considérablement plus chaotique que l'état de relaxation hypnotique qui précède la revivification. Les résultats de cette étude indiquent le rôle possible du chaos neural dans le traitement de la mémoire traumatique dissociée, durant la revivification hypnotique.Las transiciones caóticas surgen en una amplia variedad de fenómenos cognitivos y pueden estar vinculadas a cambios específicos durante el desarrollo de desórdenes mentales. Hay varias hipótesis que vinculan la disociación a cambios caóticos críticos con la resultante auto-organización de patrones conductuales durante períodos críticos. Inducimos en 2 pacientes la revivificación hipnótica de trauma disociado conjuntamente con la medición de actividad bilateral electrodermal (EDA) con fines terapéuticos y de investigación. Un análisis no-lineal del EDA registró una diferencia entre el grado de caos en el estado relajado hipnótico antes de la revivificación del trauma disociado y después de recordar la memoria traumática. Los resultados sugieren que el estado disociado después de la revivificación del trauma es significativamente más caóticos que el estado durante la relajación hipnótica precedente. Los resultados de este estudio sugieren un posible papel del caos neuronal en el procesamiento de la memoria traumática disociada durante la revivificación hipnótica.
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